Changes

== Recollections of a Victorian Police Officer by Sup John Sadleir ==

My first visit to Jericho was, as I have said, in [[1874-1877 Events|1875]]. I found a solitary constable there, Studholme Hodgson by name, a man on the whole of the better class, though he did find himself in a difficulty during his residence at Jericho that might have ended very seriously for him. The affair to which I refer also showed how ready Orientals are to embelish facts, even when there is very little gained by doing so. Finding on my visit to Jericho that there was no police work to be done there, Constable Hodgson was instructed to close up the police quarters and remove to [[Mansfield|Mansfield]] . Hodgson was held in much esteem by the few Britishers in the place, who determined on giving him a send off. Some days later a Chinaman came into Woods’ Point to report to the police there that on the night of the Jericho festivities he had been stuck up and robbed of some two pounds in silver by a white man, and that the constable took part in the affair. Fook Sing, a Chinese detective, was sent to investigate, and in due course he sent in a report somewhat to this effect: - Hodgson’s entertainers, finding that they had run short of grog, and having no ready cash for the purchase of a fresh supply, deputed one of their number to endeavour to raise a loan. It was a bright moonlight night, and the first person invoked was the complainant. John’s reply of ‘No savee’ was no accepted; his pockets were turned out and all the money he had was taken. The noise brought out Hodgson, who, according to the complainant, took part in emptying out his pockets. It was further alleged that a Chinese who accompanied the complainant to Woods’ Point was roughly run into the lock-up there. Detective Fook Sing could say nothing about the lock-up incident, but he reported that the complainant had his money taken from him alright; but instead of the larger sum named, his loss was but five shillings, the balance of some thirty-five shillings, money belonging to his employer, having been previously lost at fan tan. When proceedings were taken against the two accused men, Hodgson and his friend, before the police magistrate, Mr Ogier, it was, of course, my duty to make known the fact that, while some money had been taken, the amount was overstated.